The Hustle
Welcome to Byrdie’s series, The Hustle.
We’re profiling BIPOC individuals in the beauty and wellness industries who are usually behind-the-scenes.
Ron Robinson is one of the most revered cosmetic chemists.
“After a year of med school, I dropped out.
I didn’t know what I was going to do.
I moved back in with my parents, and they pressured me to get a life.”
Ron Robinson / Beautystat
As Robinson figured out his next move, he began sending resumes to countless companies.
Soon, he found his big break in beauty.
“They loved my chemistry and biology background.
As a skincare founder, he’s created one of the most belovedvitamin c serumsand several other standout products.
Tell us about the behind-the-scenes process of creating BeautyStat and your first product, the Universal C Skin Refiner.
I didn’t launch BeautyStat until I formulated thousands of iterations of the serum.
Vitamin C is great for the skin but is notoriously unstable.
I wanted to make a product that didn’t oxidize, smell bad, or frustrate consumers.
It took a lot of hard work to create something that is solving a big need.
With BeautyStat, we were able to stabilize vitamin C and ensure that it’s delivering significant results.
It does everything consumers wantfrom evening skin tone to addressing fine lines and wrinkles to firming the skin.
That process is what made me continue to create.
Your Universal C Skin Refiner has won awards from multiple outlets.
As a business owner, how does that make you feel?
It’s a pinch-me moment every time I hear about those types of accolades.
It just shows the uniqueness we have in being a cosmetic chemist-founded brand.
How do you set BeautyStat apart from other brands?
More than ever, the consumer is looking for data and authority.
What sets us apart is the fact the cosmetic chemist has emerged as a new expert.
No one knows more about what goes into a product than I do.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced while navigating your career and building BeautyStat?
It was a challenge to see how I could rise through the ranks and get to the next level.
In addition to running BeautyStat, you are also a chemist for Hailey Bieber’s skincare brandRhode.
What is it like juggling two huge brands?
When Hailey reached out to me, she had this great concept, and I wanted to be involved.
I’m always open to helping and consulting with other brands, but BeautyStat is the focus.
Ron Robinson / Beautystat
What are your thoughts on the current state of diversity in beauty?
How can the industry continue to improve?
Fortunately, that has changed.
There are a lot more great brands and entrepreneurs of color.
I venture to mentor some as they approach me because that’s another passion of mine.
I think although we’ve made some strides, more could always be done to have that representation.
I’d also like to see more accountability year after year.
Brands should ask themselves,How much have we changed?
What have we done?
Have we invested heavily?
Have we brought these brands into our retail presence?
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
That advice keeps me excited about the road ahead.
I always tell people to ensure their ideas are vetted as much as possible.
There are a lot of great ideas, but not all those ideas can make for a growing business.
Test your concept and ensure it’s a market fit and has scale potential.
I recommend trying our cleanser.
It’s gentle and great for all skin types.
However, it keeps the healthy bacteria intact because our skin needs healthy bacteria to function adequately.
Where do you see Beautystat in the next five to 10 years?
I see this brand going amongst high-performance, science-based skincare brands.
